Man uses trip to spread hope
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Brendan Norton says attending President Trump’s State of the Union address was a oncein-a-lifetime, eye- opening experience.
The Saratoga Springs resident was a guest of U. S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, who invited him to raise awareness about the nation’s rampant opioid and heroin epidemic.
Norton recently celebrated his third drug-free year anniversary, following a decadelong struggle with addiction.
While impressed and somewhat awestruck by events at the Capitol, Norton said the trip to Washington, D.C. hasn’t changed his career goals.
“I wouldn’t want to be a politician,” he said, smiling. “I just want to be out on the ground helping people.”
Norton began work recently for The Prevention Council, in Saratoga Springs, after earning a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University at Buffalo in December, with a 4.0 grade point average. His job title is family support navigator, helping families dealing with addiction problems find the help, resources and treatment they need.
“My main goal on this trip was to raise awareness and spread the message of hope and recovery, not just the deaths and overdoses you read about all the time,” he said. “Good things happen when you get clean.”
Many people have already contacted him on Facebook, and he’s directed a Rochester family needing help to local agency in their area.
“They had no idea what to do,” he said. “They saw what I do on the news and reached out to me.”
Norton and his wife, Erin Murray, flew to the nation’s capital Tuesday morning. After getting settled in their hotel, they went to the Rayburn Building to meet Tonko staff members, followed by a short tram ride to the Capitol building.
First, they had to pass through several security checkpoints.
“They confiscate all electronics; cell phones, car starters, anything with a remote,” Norton said. “And you have to show your ticket at all times. There was no joking around that night.”
After finding their seats in the House Gallery, overlooking the floor, they met Tonko who escorted them to a reception hosted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- Ca.
“She told me, ‘I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m very proud of you. Keep up your hard work,’” Norton said. “She’s a really nice lady.”
The only harrowing, yet funny experience happened after Norton and his wife went back to their seats in the Gallery.
“I got up to use the men’s room, took a wrong turn down a corridor and ran into these Capitol Police SWAT and FBI teams,” he said. “I told them, ‘I’m just looking for the bathroom!’ They probably saw the look of panic and terror on my face. They were some pretty intense dudes. They were ready for anything, carrying machine guns, outfitted with night vision glasses.”